Importing Data from JSON (beta release)

The JSON importer in still in beta and is not yet fully supported.

The JIRA Importers plugin, which is bundled with JIRA, allows you to import data from a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file.

JSON files are easy to read and are capable of encapsulating more structure and information than CSV files. They can also be used to populate data from other systems.

The JIRA Importers plugin comes with an export option that allows you to export your existing issues to JSON formatted files, which can be used to copy issues between different JIRA servers, or to prepare templates that can be used to populate new projects.

This is an experimental feature so feel free to contact us and share your story or ideas how this feature can help you.

You can generate JSON file with JIRA Importers plugin version 4.3 or later.

Please note that the import issue format used by JIRA Importers plugin is a simplified version when compared to the version returned from the JIRA REST API.

On this page:

Preparing JSON data for import into JIRA

You can generate JSON file for a set of issues using JSON (beta) view from Issue Navigator.

Alternatively you can export a single issue using JSON (beta) view from issue screen.

JSON file example

If you want to prepare the JSON file yourself follow this pattern:

JSON file example

{
    "users": [
        {
            "name": "alice",
            "fullname": "Alice Foo"
        },
        {
            "name": "bob",
            "fullname": "Bob Bar"
        }
    ],
    "links": [
        {
            "name": "sub-task-link",
            "sourceId": "2",
            "destinationId": "1"
        },
        {
            "name": "Duplicate",
            "sourceId": "3",
            "destinationId": "2"
        }
    ],
    "projects": [
        {
            "name": "A Sample Project",
            "key": "ASM",
            "description": "JSON file description",
            "versions": [
                {
                    "name": "1.0",
                    "released": true,
                    "releaseDate": "P-3W"
                },
                {
                    "name": "2.0"
                }
            ],
            "components": [
                "Component",
                "AnotherComponent"
            ],
            "issues": [
                {
                    "priority" : "Major",
                    "description" : "Some nice description here\nMaybe _italics_ or *bold*?",
                    "status" : "Closed",
                    "reporter" : "alice",
                    "labels" : [ "impossible", "to", "test" ],
                    "watchers" : [ "bob" ],
                    "issueType" : "Bug",
                    "resolution" : "Resolved",
                    "created" : "P-3D",
                    "updated" : "P-1D",
                    "affectedVersions" : [ "1.0" ],
                    "summary" : "My chore for today",
                    "assignee" : "bob",
                    "fixedVersions" : [ "1.0", "2.0" ],
                    "components" : ["Component", "AnotherComponent"],
                    "externalId" : "1",
                    "history" : [
                        {
                            "author" : "alice",
                            "created": "P-1D",
                            "items": [
                                {
                                    "fieldType" : "jira",
                                    "field" : "status",
                                    "from" : "1",
                                    "fromString" : "Open",
                                    "to" : "5",
                                    "toString" : "Resolved"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ],
                    "customFieldValues": [
                        {
                            "fieldName": "Story Points",
                            "fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:float",
                            "value": "15"
                        },
                        {
                            "fieldName": "Business Value",
                            "fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:float",
                            "value": "34"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "status" : "Open",
                    "reporter" : "bob",
                    "issueType": "Subtask",
                    "created" : "P-3D",
                    "updated" : "P-1D",
                    "summary" : "Sub-task",
                    "externalId": "2"
                },
                {
                    "status" : "Closed",
                    "reporter" : "alice",
                    "issueType": "Subtask",
                    "created" : "P-3D",
                    "updated" : "P-1D",
                    "resolution" : "Duplicate",
                    "summary" : "Duplicate Sub-task",
                    "externalId": "3"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}

Running the JSON Import Wizard

If your JIRA installation has existing data, then before you begin, back up your existing JIRA data.

Log in to JIRA as as a user with the JIRA Administrators global permission.
Select Administration > System > Import & Export > External System Import > Import button associated with the JSON option to open the JSON Import Wizard: Setup page.
Keyboard shortcut: g + g + start typing external system import
The importer will display updates as the import progresses, then a success message when the import is complete. You can download the import log if you wish.

Congratulations, you have successfully imported your JSON projects into JIRA! If you have any questions or encounter any problems, please contact Atlassian support.

Child pages

Importing Data from JSON (beta release)

Preparing JSON data for import into JIRA

JSON file example

Running the JSON Import Wizard